California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914
CHARLES HENRY HURT.� The memories of a lifetime associate Mr.
Hurt only with California, for although a native of Missouri, born in Henry
county January 20, 1850, he was only three years of age when his parents,
William and Mary J. (Ogan) Hurt, both natives of Missouri, crossed the
plains with their few household necessities carefully packed in a covered
wagon drawn by oxen. The journey, made during the summer of 1853, was
one of great hardship and privation. Misfortunes more than once threatened
to exterminate the little party of emigrants. Of these troubles the small son
was happily ignorant, nor has he clear and distinct recollections of the early
days at Lakeport, Lake county, where his father settled in 1855 and endured
all the vicissitudes incident to an endeavor to establish farming in a new
country upon a paying basis. Schools were few and widely scattered. It was
not possible for the lad to attend regularly, but he learned much of importance
as he aided his father in the daily round of toil, and the practical experience
thus gained laid the foundation of his subsequent success. At the age of
twenty-three years a desire to earn ready money for himself caused him to
leave home and secure employment in a saw-mill. However, the call of
the farm lured him back to country life and since then he has devoted his
attention to agriculture in its various departments. To the worthy pioneer
couple were born sixteen children, ten of whom are still living, namely :
Charles H., of whom we write; William Irvin, residing in Redwood valley;
James W., a farmer in Poor Man's valley ; A. J., of Upper Lake ; Molissa,
now Mrs. Gravier of Covelo ; Parthena, Mrs. Bates, matron of the Round Val-
ley Indian School ; Levi, of Covelo ; L. B.. of Round Valley ; Adah, Mrs. John
Eldred, of Los Molinos ; and Ida, Mrs. Cyrus, of Covelo, the two latter being
twins. The father spent his last days in Round valley, where the mother still
resides, aged eighty years.
Upon his arrival in Round Valley, Mendocino county, August 15, 1884,
Mr. Hurt secured eighty acres of land, which in 1891 the government bought
from him to form a part of the present Indian reservation. Being pleased with
conditions here, he decided to buy another farm and establish himself per-
manently as a resident. On the east side of the valley he bought an eighty
that forms the nucleus of his present highly improved property, another tract
of eighty-three acres was bought in 1904 from John Williams. and in the
same year he purchased eight hundred acres of range land on the south of the
middle fork of Eel river. His neat residence and adequate farm buildings are
located one mile east of Covelo. Among the residents of Round valley he has
a reputation as one of the most efficient farmers and stock-raisers. Nor does
the care of the land and the stock represent the limit of his energies, for in
addition he has been an upbuilder of the local telephone system and during
1912 consented to serve as a director of the Round Valley Creamery, in
which he holds considerable stock.
Mr. Hurt was married in Lakeport June 21, 1874, to Miss Sarah Jane
Scudemore, a native of Illinois, who came with her father. Godwin Scudemore,
to Scotts valley. Lake county, in 1869. They have reared a large family and
have endeavored to train each child to habits of industry and self-reliance and
to high principles of honor. Mary, Mrs. M. N. Spurlock, and Alice, Mrs. Long,
both reside in Covelo ; Agnes, Mrs. Rhoads, resides at the Middle Fork ; Mattie,
Mrs. R. C. Gray, is in Williams valley ; James, who married Bertha Begley
and has two children, is a farmer adjoining the old home; Molissa. Mrs. W. A.
Gray, died April 20, 1911, leaving three children; Lottie married A I Brush
a farmer m Round valley; Kate. Mrs. Laurence Hansen, resides in Willits
Martin C. married Winnie Jamison and is superintending the Middle Fork
ranch : Charles H.. Jr., died January 1, 1890, at the age of one month- Byron
IS a clerk for the firm of Long & Biggar ; Grover C. and Toe are assisting their
father in operating the home ranch ; and Vida is also under the parental roof
As a member of the Democratic party Mr. Hurt has maintained a warm inter-
est in local politics. He served for nearly seven years as deputy United States
marshal for the Northern District of California under Baldwin and afterwards
under John H. Shine, during which time he performed the duties of the office
with fidelity and conscientiousness. In fraternal relations he holds member-
ship with Covelo Lodge No. 231, F. & A. M., of which he was Master for eight
years and to whose charities he contributes when called upon He is also
a member of Ukiah Chapter No. 53, R. A. M., and with his wife is a member
of Augusta Chapter No. 80, O. E. S. Modern agriculture represents his chief
interest. He is a believer in modern methods of farming and is quick to adopt
any new method of planting or caring for the crops if once convinced of the
utility of the plan. High grades of stock and the latest machinery may be
seen on his farm, while the general appearance of thrift indicates that he is a
farmer of efficiency and intelligence.